Chapter Nine: To Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

The conversation continued, and soon a thin, dark-skinned man with two mustaches approached, bowing slightly and saying, "I am Weng Tansheng, your subordinate, paying my respects to the leader"

Cheng Chuqiu was lost in thought when suddenly the sound of drums erupted, bringing him back to his senses. He then saw a group of men in black escorting several raggedly dressed individuals, whose expressions were lewd, entering from the other side.

Upon hearing this, the person stepped forward to take a look and said: "So you were hiding here eavesdropping on Elder Wei's conversation. I see you are tired of living! Turn around!"

The person behind said: "Who are you? Turn around."

Cheng Chuqiu hastily loosened the surrounding soil, reached out to pull up the object, and suddenly a bright light flashed before his eyes, dazzling and brilliant. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a steel knife

Weng Tansheng saw the two people talking incessantly and said, "Alright, alright, is there no end to this?" He gave a glance to the man in white.

When Lv Yanjiao asked him this question, he instead shrank back and said: "No!"

Cheng Chuqiu thought: "In such a cramped space, with so many items placed here, it is absolutely impossible to practice any martial arts, unless..." Turning around, he noticed the fourth wall, which was the entrance to the stone chamber. There was a stone slab leaning against the wall, perfectly sized to seal the opening, completely isolating this stone chamber from the outside world

It turned out that this week, Zhou Cuo had practiced Iron Head Skill for several years. In a moment of panic, he used his forehead to meet the fist, not out of sheer desperation. However, Wei Qing's punch was quite powerful; although Zhou Cuo was knocked back, it seemed as if he was at a disadvantage. In reality, he had completely neutralized the force of the opponent's headbutt with that impact. In contrast, Zhou Cuo took the full brunt of the punch, leaving him momentarily dizzy and unsteady on his feet. Nevertheless, Wei Qing's punch was indeed substantial; although Zhou Cuo was knocked back, it appeared that he was slightly inferior, while he had actually absorbed the force of the opponent's headbutt, whereas Zhou Cuo had taken the punch squarely, feeling dizzy and unstable.

A voice sounded from behind, and someone spoke up: "Who are you?"

Cheng Chuqiu walked further inside, only to find that this room had only three walls, with one side embedded into the hillside, creating a hollow pit. The pit was dark and damp, with no visible bottom.

The person returned to his side and asked, "Elder Wei, do you have any further instructions?"

At that moment, Wei Qing also heard the sound and called out loudly from the other side: "Who is over there?"

Cheng Chuqiu wanted to use this knife as a digging tool and continue excavating, but suddenly remembered that it belonged to Li Beier. Out of affection for her, it was not appropriate to use it as a shovel and mistreat it. Moreover, he had been out for a while, and continuing to dig would be endless; it would be better to find a time to come back with a spade.

Weng Tansheng continued: "Please, madam, take a look. Are these two individuals the ones who were disrespectful to you that day?"

Li Beier said: "Elder Wei is the successor of the former leader, and having you represent him is most appropriate."

He thought of this and then wondered: "But there is nothing in this stone chamber, what is someone hiding in here for? Right, the oil lamp, there is an oil lamp inside, which means someone really has locked themselves in here. But are they reading? Or practicing martial arts?"

Cheng Chuqiu secretly poked his head out and saw Wei Qing standing not far away by the mountain ravine, lost in thought, while another person stood beside him, looking respectful.

Even with this addition, the tunnel is hardly three zhang deep

Wei Qingdao: "Wait a moment..."

Li Beier frowned and said, "Who is currently in charge of the Criminal Court? Call him up."

Cheng Chuqiu thought: "This is indeed something belonging to Li Zhongxuan. However..." Remembering that day when Li Beier spoke alone under the moonlight, her words were filled with such affection and loyalty. If these truly are her father's relics, it is simply impossible for them to be carelessly discarded here.

That person said earnestly: "Indeed, it is so." He then asked: "What should we do next?"

Weng Tansheng spoke as he took out a piece of paper from his bosom and presented it with both hands. Li Beier said, "No need, since you preside over the court of justice, can I still not trust you?"

This also explained to Cheng Chuqiu the fundamental operational model of this large gang: rewards for merit and penalties for wrongdoing, with clear distinctions between the two. This principle applies universally, whether to the gentry of the upper and middle classes or to the common people. Cheng Chuqiu pondered further, considering that sometimes, in order to maintain normal operations, it might be taken for granted to create a few cases for execution.

This situation is somewhat difficult. Looking around, one can only see oneself in a dense forest, unable to discern the direction. One option is to turn back and leap into the cave, retracing the original path, which is the most prudent choice. Otherwise, one must risk getting lost and seek an alternative route home

Cheng Chuqiu had no idea who Zhou Cuo was, nor did he understand why he had been captured and brought here. However, knowing that the other party was unable to move and had no capacity for resistance, to deliberately attack the opponent's vulnerable points was not the conduct befitting a great man or a gentleman. Coupled with his lack of fondness for Wei Qingshu, he thus felt a sense of sympathy for Zhou Cuo.

As for the matter at hand: "I have already instructed someone to create more obstacles on the road. However, considering the travel pace, the messenger will surely arrive within three days. Within seven days, Young Master Guo will be able to set foot on Panshi Island"

Wei Qing was furious and threw a punch at Zhou Cuo's face. Zhou Cuo was bound all over, with his hands restricted, so he could only tilt his head to the side and take a step back. The six black-clad men holding the iron chains that restrained him were unexpectedly pulled a few steps forward.

Cheng Chuqiu saw that Zhou Cuo could no longer evade and secretly sighed. In the past, whenever he witnessed an injustice, he would invariably intervene, as the saying goes, "When one sees a wrong, one must draw their sword to help." Now, however, he could barely ensure his own safety and could only resign himself to fate.

Cheng Chuqiu still remembers that day when Li Beier's first words were spoken for him, addressing Steward Li a few times, urging him to cherish human resources and material resources. Of course, the content of such admonitions was not entirely directed at him, but to say such words at that moment was enough to move a person inexplicably

Insufficient information prevented him from making a more precise judgment, urging him to continue digging in order to obtain more. Just as he was aimlessly digging and was about to give up, suddenly with a "crack," the flagpole in his hand broke into two pieces, nearly causing him to stumble

Cheng Chuqiu was lost in thought about these matters and did not hear what Li Beier was explaining. Li Beier wanted to finish what she had to say, but saw Cheng Chuqiu staring blankly at her, frowning, and then turning to leave. Gong Yuexian, who was beside her, had witnessed Cheng Chuqiu's reaction for the second time. Before leaving, she whispered a few words in Lu Yanjiao's ear and smiled as she departed

Although he secretly mocked Lü Yanjiao in his heart, he felt somewhat grateful for her concern. Strolling to the door of Li Bao'er’s room, he saw two young maidservants just coming out, so he approached to inquire about the situation inside. The maidservants spoke indistinctly, rambling on about various unrelated matters, ultimately conveying that there was nothing wrong. Cheng Chuqiu was initially puzzled, but then felt relieved and chose not to enter the room.

Li Bao'er said softly, "That's right, it's just... just them..." Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly covered her face and began to sob. Li Beier turned around to comfort her and gestured towards Weng Tansheng.

Li Beier stated: "As for the captives, the men shall be assigned as slaves, and the women as maids. The men will be managed and distributed by Chief Steward Li, while the women... will be entirely entrusted to Elder Wang for disposition." Women are also considered a type of wealth, akin to books and maps. Upon hearing this, Wang Xuqing expressed his gratitude and appreciation.

What lies before us is likely a concrete manifestation of this example

Li Beier took it and said, "The gold, silver, and jewels will be divided in half; one half will be stored, and the other half will be at the discretion of Elder Wang, to be distributed as rewards to those who have contributed..." As soon as these words were spoken, the scene erupted in cheers, which continued for a long time.

Wei Qingdao: "Moreover, the most important thing is whether there are any nonsensical matters. In any case, we should dig as much as we can; if there is nothing to dig, we should find a way to provide something for him."

The two quickly looked up and began to babble a series of indistinct words at Li Beier, appearing very agitated. Cheng Chuqiu, standing in a position that allowed her to see their expressions, noticed that while their mouths were moving, blood was continuously spilling from them, rendering them unable to articulate any coherent words. She thought to herself: "These two have had their tongues cut out. That one named Weng Tansheng is asking knowingly; how cunning of him."

Li Bao'er said tearfully: "That's right, it's him"

Wei Qingdao: "When will Guo Jinhua arrive?"

Cheng Chuqiu saw this and couldn't help but silently exclaim: "Despicable"

Lü Yanjiao said, "Then I shall take my leave." After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned back, hesitating to speak.

Cheng Chuqiu did not feel disgust towards the two daughters of Lü Gong for occasionally revealing such expressions, nor did he question their character. He understood that this was a common human sentiment. However, in Li Beier's gaze, he could see none of this "common sentiment" at all

Weng Tansheng said: "In response to the leader's words: The leader is magnanimous, which is indeed a blessing for our gang. However, both of them are aware that they cannot escape the law and have already confessed. They have secretly withheld funds and provisions, thinking it would serve as escape money, and have plotted to abduct the madam and flee the island by boat, among other matters. There is ample evidence, both testimonial and material. This is the signed confession of the two individuals, and I kindly ask the leader to review it."

Cheng Chuqiu heard Wei Qing call out like this and knew he would come over immediately. If he were to see her, it would be quite troublesome. Therefore, she made up her mind, suddenly turned around, and said, "Hello"

Li Beier said: "Since these people have already admitted their mistakes and surrendered, Elder Wei need not provoke them further." Turning to Zhou Cuo, who was lying on the ground, she continued: "Chief Zhou, the Dongting and Huarong factions have been feuding for generations, as irreconcilable as water and fire, constantly battling and inflicting harm upon each other, with many casualties on both sides. In the time of my late husband, he was also injured by you, and what we see now is merely the so-called retribution in this world. Whether through cunning or strength, whether you are convinced or not, you ultimately fall into our hands."

The burly man with a twisted beard glared at him and said, "You are not Guo Zongyao. Where is Guo Zongyao? Call him out to see me"

This part is the most troublesome and the hardest to understand. He walked to the bookshelf and suddenly remembered that only in his master's study on Mount Yunxiao was there such a bookshelf. It turned out that Chai Yunlong not only taught him martial arts but also taught him to read and write. Although he had read many books and memorized quite a few passages from the Analects and the Mencius, books were not cheap. If he wanted to read, he could just ask his master for them; there was no need for him to build a bookshelf himself.

Wei Qing watched the person leave, seemingly muttering to himself. Cheng Chuqiu was still some distance away, so he could not hear clearly. He thought to himself: "Once Guo Jinhua returns, there will be a dispute over the position of the leader. It seems that Wei Qing still supports Li Beier, but the reason for his support is that he believes he can control her. If Li Beier does not obey, the situation will change."

As everyone listened, their eyes couldn't help but light up. The Huarong Gang is based around the eastern Dongting Lake, stretching from Huarong in the west to Junshan in the east, with waterways serving both directions, its sphere of influence even larger than that of the Dongting Gang. After decades of accumulation, their resources are naturally quite considerable. This is why the leader of the Huarong Gang, Zhou Cuo, intends to further absorb the Dongting Gang, which has been neighboring him and is slightly weaker in strength.

These few individuals stood in a line more than two zhang away from Li Beier when they were ordered to stop. At that moment, a thunderous voice suddenly echoed from the air: "Guo Zongyao! If you have the guts, come out and challenge me one-on-one. Hiding in the shadows and plotting, what kind of hero is that?"

He thought of this and felt a surge of anger rising within him. He then contemplated: "Well, she is warning me about the consequences of offending her, humph..."

As the words fell silent, the six men in black, wielding iron chains, collectively dragged the unconscious Zhou Cuo towards the dock. Upon arrival, there were already people waiting, who ensnared Zhou Cuo, along with the iron chains, in layers of fishing nets. They then set sail to the center of the lake, and with a "splash," they threw him in. The weight of the iron chains aided in pulling Zhou Cuo swiftly down into the water, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight

In the midst of contemplation, the Grand Elder Tang Junyan suddenly turned around and approached Li Beier, instructing someone to present a wooden box. He said, "I have some external injury medicine here, which promotes blood circulation and is quite effective." Li Beier expressed her gratitude, and Lv Yanjiao stepped forward to receive it

Cheng Chuqiu saw this and felt that he had at least gained something today. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he suddenly heard a rustling sound behind him, and at the same time, someone shouted, "Who is it?"

Cheng Chuqiu came to his senses and said, "I was just lost in thought; who said I was looking at anyone?"

Cheng Chuqiu heard the eight words "Tattooing the forehead as a record, sentenced to servitude," and felt a stir in his heart, unable to resist touching his own cheek. He saw those people being led away dejectedly, and not far from the gate, the execution was about to take place.

Cheng Chuqiu suddenly recalled having heard Lu Yanjiao mention that after Guo Zongyao's passing, Li Baor and Li Beier initially lived together in the main hall. However, later on, due to Li Beier's recent assumption of the position of leader, she often found herself busy until the early hours of the morning. Li Baor felt increasingly guilty for being unable to assist and, feeling somewhat troubled by the situation, decided to move out voluntarily to the house that Guo Zongyao had prepared for the two sisters when they first arrived. This decision was influenced by her sense of guilt and the discomfort she felt from visiting Li Beier, who was often preoccupied with her new responsibilities.

Wang Xuqing replied: "This subordinate obeys the command"

Upon hearing the name "Guo Jinhua," Cheng Chuqiu instinctively halted his steps and cautiously sought a place to hide

Perhaps due to the firebrand, Cheng Chuqiu then noticed a sign placed beside the pit, which read: "Master's Training Ground, Entry Forbidden; Trespassers Will Die." He reached out to wipe it, and it was covered in dust.

That person said: "Yes."

Cheng Chuqiu felt somewhat disappointed. He raised the torch to illuminate the four walls and saw that one of the stone walls had a bookshelf that was about the height of a person, but it was completely empty. The other stone wall displayed various weapon racks, which were also entirely devoid of contents and in a state of disrepair.

That person said: "Although it has been over ten years since we last met, a familiar person can recognize him at a glance. I believe that if Young Master Guo were to suddenly appear before Elder Wei, Elder Wei would certainly recognize him at first sight"

Although the steel knife is excellent, it is not convenient to carry away. Therefore, I found a relatively high place, carefully buried it, and marked the spot outside for future retrieval. The remaining flags were also properly buried one by one

In this battle, the Dongting Gang treated it as a war, which even alarmed the local authorities. However, when the authorities learned that it was a conflict between two rival gangs, they remained inactive and watched from the sidelines. Wang Xuqing understood that the authorities intended to reap the benefits of the situation, so within two days, he emptied all movable assets of the Huarong Gang. By the time the authorities gathered enough troops, he had already fled with his followers.

Lü Yanjiao walked up to Cheng Chuqiu and said, "The person has already left, what are you still looking at?"

He suspected that the bookshelf must be peculiar, so he reached out to touch it, and then pushed and pulled it a bit. The bookshelf swayed slightly, and some dust fell down

The head of a person is fundamentally an important area that needs protection during a confrontation. His action of prioritizing the primary over the secondary left those who understood the implications greatly puzzled. However, with a resounding "bang," Wei Qing's punch struck Zhou Cuo squarely on the forehead, causing both of them to stagger. Wei Qing was even propelled several feet back before finally stabilizing himself

Cheng Chuqiu thought to himself: "This is bad!" He had just been holding his breath and concentrating intently on the conversation between the two, completely unaware that someone was approaching from behind. Now it was a dire situation; in a moment of panic, he blurted out: "It's me!"

Cheng Chuqiu casually picked up the flagpole and struck it against the blade. With a "sizzle," it was as if he were chopping a kitchen knife with a vegetable. Half of the flagpole flew away. Cheng Chuqiu found a seal script carving of the character "Li" on the hilt of the knife and couldn't help but think: "This knife has been buried in the ground for who knows how long, yet remarkably, the blade shows no signs of rust and remains so sharp. Perhaps this knife cannot be considered a treasure, but it is certainly a rare find. Why, then, does this knife belonging to Li Zhongxuan appear here? The flag of the escort agency may not be considered a relic, but this knife surely is, right? It might even be a family heirloom passed down through the Li family!"

Cheng Chuqiu arrived at the brightest spot at the bottom of the well, found a place to insert the torch, and carefully held the flag surface with both hands. As he cleared away the dirt and mud to take a closer look, he saw that the flag cloth had a yellow background with red characters the size of a palm, which read: "Weiyuan Escort Agency." Beside it, there was also an embroidered golden bat, intricately crafted and lifelike.

Weng Tansheng said: "They have been taken down!" The man in white received the order and dragged the two prisoners out.

Upon closer inspection, some of these individuals appeared disheveled and in a pitiful state, while others were covered in blood, limping with crooked arms. However, regardless of their outward appearance, all were shackled with leg irons and had their hands bound behind their backs, as if they were being led like livestock to the slaughter, with the men in black guiding them in a continuous line into the training ground.

Once the voices of the crowd had quieted down, Li Beier continued: "All other livestock, goods, and vessels must be counted and returned to the storehouse. Elder Wang, please ensure this matter is completed within seven days, and then report the results back to me."

The person was taken aback and said, "It’s you..." Just as the word "you" left his lips, Cheng Chuqiu suddenly struck with his left palm, hitting the person squarely in the chest. The person hadn’t even thought to dodge, and his body was already sent flying.

Cheng Chuqiu's mind stirred, and he forcefully moved the bookshelf aside. Indeed, behind the cabinet appeared a passageway about half a person's height. He exclaimed softly, "Got it!" and, holding a torch, he squeezed in.

Li Beier continued, "Thanks to Elder Wang of our faction, who led the disciples and personally faced the danger, we finally captured the leader of the Huarong Gang along with several key figures. Of course, this was also the result of the prior joint planning by the three elders of the Heaven, Earth, and Man Halls, and the concerted efforts of the brothers in the Man Hall..."

Cheng Chuqiu watched her leave, thinking: "This girl clearly has something to say, yet she swallowed it back." On this isolated Rock Island, what could possibly make her hesitate to speak? It must certainly be something related to Li Baor.

Wei Qingdao: "Am I not saying to go quickly?"

Only then did he hear the previous voice say: "Verification? How do you verify it?" Cheng Chuqiu listened carefully and indeed recognized it was Wei Qing's voice

The second time, Li Beier took the initiative to summon him. At that time, Cheng Chuqiu was already aware that she held the esteemed position of a leader among her group; however, what was different was that in Li Beier's discourse, she did not regard him as a lowly slave.

Li Beier leaned forward, speaking softly to Zhou Cuo, and said: "I can only say that I hope Master Zhou can close his eyes and die in the Dongting Gang, which would be a death worthy of its place."

In fact, speaking in such a manner as the leader of Li Beier is rather overly polite. Perhaps this indicates that in her heart, treating people as objects, summoning them at will and dismissing them just as easily, is inappropriate

As for dealing with these two criminals, there is no need for such elaborate measures; they simply bound the two together, tied them to stones, and threw them into the lake to conclude the matter. Once the execution was completed, the purpose of this assembly was considered fulfilled. The meeting not only praised those who had contributed but also punished the enemies and criminals, allowing everyone to witness it, thus carrying a dual significance of encouragement and caution.

It is not surprising that the flagpole was broken, but the fact that it happened without any warning, nearly causing him to stumble, is indeed peculiar. He took another flagpole and dug into the same spot again, and suddenly with a similar "scrape" sound, the flagpole in his hand became light once more and broke again.

Cheng Chuqiu made a self-deprecating remark and then walked forward. He was sharp of hearing and sight; before he got close, he could clearly hear someone in the conversation suddenly exclaiming in a panicked tone: "What? You say they found Guo Jinhua?"

After a while, Wei Qing said: "Have you seen clearly?"

This time, the prisoners were brought in by two men in white clothing, one holding onto the other, dragging and pulling the prisoner along. Both prisoners were covered in large and small injuries, with bruises of various colors, indicating that they had endured considerable suffering in prison

After everything was taken care of, Cheng Chuqiu looked up, planned his route, and executed the lizard technique, climbing up from the bottom of the well. His movements were agile, and his lightness skill was exceptional; in no time, he reached the well opening. Turning around to look, he realized that this was actually a natural cave, rather than an artificially dug well.

After dealing with the main leaders of the Huarong Gang, Wang Xuqing returned to his seat and replaced it with a disciple in black who stepped forward. He then paid his respects to the Li sisters and all the elders before unfolding a short scroll and reading aloud the total gains from the eradication of the Huarong Gang. Among the treasures were gold and silver, pearls and agates, all counted by the box. Additionally, there were a certain number of warships, fishing boats, livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, and even bamboo rafts, small boats, chickens, ducks, geese, and quails were not overlooked.

Wei Qing pointed at his nose, tapped it a few times, and said: "Do you... do you understand what I mean?"

He became increasingly enthusiastic as he dug, but due to the limitations of his tools, he could only expand the excavation area and could not delve deeper. Eventually, he found a flag with a different shape and embroidered with different characters. Upon closer inspection, it read: "Chief Escort Li"

Tang Junyan suddenly glanced at Cheng Chuqiu and said, "Is this the person who survived the great calamity?" Among the women, Cheng Chuqiu appeared particularly tall, making it difficult for Tang Junyan not to notice him

Cheng Chuqiu suddenly realized, thinking: "So this is it, this is the woman's main purpose for insisting that I come here today. She wants me to witness the execution of her two former servants with my own eyes"

Wei Qingdao: "Is that so?" He seemed somewhat disheartened

The people on the ship were filled with joyous cheers, expressing their congratulations with raised hands. Those on the shore, witnessing this, also joined in with loud applause and cheers.

Before she left, she specifically summoned Lü Yanjiao and Cheng Chuqiu to give them careful instructions. It was nothing more than to ensure they took good care of Li Bao'er’s foot injury and to soothe her emotions. Lü Yanjiao responded obediently, while Cheng Chuqiu was preoccupied with other thoughts

Cheng Chuqiu hurriedly stepped forward, only to realize that it led to the bottom of a dry well. Looking up, he saw that the well was several zhang deep, damp and dark, with slippery green moss everywhere. To climb up from here, one would indeed need some skill.

The person took a step back and uneasily asked, "Is there nothing else?"

Wei Qing then stood up and said: "Respected leader, the most significant matter this month is undoubtedly the eradication of the Huarong Gang. Externally, there are still remnants that need to be eliminated, and internally, organizing and accounting will also require considerable effort. In the coming months, we will likely be occupied with these tasks. Now, we are left with the criminals sentenced by the last trial in the court, awaiting execution."

Cheng Chuqiu glanced at Lü Yanjiao and said, "I didn't expect you to care about me so much." He attempted to shift her focus and downplay the matter

It turned out that Cheng Chuqiu felt differently each time he met her on three occasions. The first time, he stumbled upon her in the dim moonlight. At that moment, she was a lonely and solitary young girl, bullied by men, and she was almost powerless to resist. Her monologue under the moonlight was even more heart-wrenching, making those who heard it nearly shed tears. Cheng Chuqiu felt that she was delicate and endearing that night, infatuated and captivating.

The tunnel was not wide enough; a person could just barely walk straight in. If someone were to suddenly come from the opposite direction, it would be impossible for two people to pass each other. However, at this moment, it was unlikely that anyone would come out from within, so there was no need to worry about that. Just as he had not walked for long, the space before him suddenly opened up. Cheng Chuqiu raised the torch high and discovered that he had arrived in a small chamber. This chamber was indeed pitifully small, measuring only about one zhang on each side.

The third meeting is today. Today, Li Beier has transformed into a truly unyielding and merciless leader of the Dongting Gang. If Cheng Chuqiu had not seen her before, and was meeting her for the first time today, he would likely feel nauseated at the mere thought of the morning's scene in the future

Zhou Cuo was struck on the face, and immediately stars danced before his eyes, blood gushed from his nose, and he swayed a couple of times before collapsing backward. He was seriously injured, yet his temper remained fierce. He mumbled through clenched teeth: "Damn it... you little brat... if you have the guts... if you have the guts, let go of me, hehe... but... but I see you... don't have the guts..." As he spoke, blood also flowed from his mouth.

The person replied, "This subordinate understands."

Li Beier nodded in agreement while listening, ultimately approving everything as proposed

Zhou Cuo, still in a daze, murmured: "Is it true? Guo Zongyao has passed away?"

Cheng Chuqiu saw that he was bound by thick iron chains, each thicker than a finger, and speculated that no matter how great his abilities were, he would likely be unable to escape this predicament. However, he glared with wide eyes, his demeanor proud; with each step he took, he let out a low growl, accompanied by the clanging sound of the chains colliding, which was quite striking. Cheng could not help but think: "Who is this person?"

Wei Qing lowered his hands, resting them behind his back, and said: "Good, as long as you understand, hurry up and take care of it!"

Reigniting the torch, Cheng Chuqiu used his other hand to pick up the gun barrel, only to unexpectedly discover that the barrel was still attached to the gun body. With a tug, a mass of objects was pulled up along with it. It turned out that this was not a gun, but a flagpole of a fire banner, which had broken approximately at the place of the flag surface. In the light of the flames, it could be seen that the flag surface, obscured by mud and dirt, faintly bore some embroidered characters.

At that time, the execution boat had retrieved the drowned Zhou Cuo and returned to the shore. They certainly did not want the corpse, but the iron chains on him could not be wasted. A few people formed a circle, busily unfastening the iron chains.

Li Beier stared straight ahead and said calmly, "Think of a way to make him shut up. If we continue to allow him to disrespect the former leader like this, we might as well go back and commit suicide by cutting our throats!"

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Li Bao'er found herself crying incessantly due to her stirred emotions, leaving Li Bei'er with no choice but to stay and offer her continuous comfort

Indeed, Zhou Cuo managed to evade the first day of the month but could not escape the fifteenth. The six black-clad individuals restraining him had already prepared for this and were exerting all their strength to hold him back. Seeing that he could no longer dodge this punch, Zhou Cuo unexpectedly lowered his head and charged forward to meet it head-on

Wei Qing pondered and said, "Alright, I want you to investigate his background and report back on where he has been these past few years and what he has been doing."

Li Beier said: "Perhaps the two of them have deceived others, but to line their own pockets? That should not be the case, right? You are accusing them of committing treason and causing chaos, but... isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Li Beier resumed her original posture and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: "Zhou Cuo leads the Huarong bandits, and for over a decade in the Dong Dongting Lake area, they have opposed our gang at every turn. Not only have they taken advantage of my unpreparedness to seize wealth and children, but they have also burned ships and killed people, leaving no survivors. In recent years, they have repeatedly harassed the waters near my Panshi Island. This is intolerable, absolutely intolerable!"

Libby said: "Do what you are supposed to do!"

Cheng Chuqiu thought to himself: "Elder Wei? Wei Qing?"

The two men in white exchanged glances and shouted in unison, "Enough, be quiet!" Raising his right foot, he forcefully kicked their backs with his knee. The two men winced in pain, realizing their fate was sealed, and gradually fell silent.

Only those who lack foresight will inevitably face immediate troubles. While he was scheming against others, they had already infiltrated his territory. Under the cover of night, the main hall of the Huazhong Alliance was engulfed in flames. A few brave members of the Dongting Gang, driven by rage, lured the irrational Zhou Cuo to the shores of Dongting Lake. Then, Wang Xuqing intervened, took him aboard a boat, and subsequently captured him in the lake.

Cheng Chuqiu seemed to be inspired, rising once more to pace back and forth in the room, pondering: "If it is merely to be used as a chair, why use such heavy stone? Indeed, after covering the cave entrance with a stone slab, this stone block can be used to secure the slab, thus preventing anyone from entering from the outside"

He guessed the first thing correctly and continued to look up to confirm. He saw that the ceiling of this cave was about two zhang high, forming a circular arch shape, resembling being inside an egg. He couldn't help but feel disappointed, thinking: "Practicing internal skills allows one to enter seclusion without eating or drinking, but one cannot stop breathing, right? If someone outside were to seal the door, wouldn't the people inside suffocate?"

Pushing aside the grass, I found the door of the house had long since fallen into disrepair, half-broken and leaning askew on one side. Upon entering, I saw the light of day streaming in, yet the roof had collapsed by more than half, and the ground was strewn with broken tiles and rubble. Cobwebs and dust covered everything, indicating that no one had set foot here for an unknown length of time

Only then did Li Beier finally say: "Zhou Cuo has repeatedly harmed my gang, my hands are stained with fresh blood, this enmity cannot coexist under heaven. Subject him to the punishment of drowning, come, take him down!"

Due to her status as a woman, the leader Li Beier, in accordance with the latest regulations of the gang, stipulated that no other idle men, apart from the female guards in purple attire, should approach within three zhang of her. Consequently, in an instant, all the gang members cleared out completely, leaving Cheng Chuqiu as the only man remaining at the scene

Li Beier said: "Elders, is there anything else?"

Another person said: "... subordinates witnessed it with their own eyes."

At that time, for the sake of two young girls aged seventeen or eighteen, Guo Zongyao actually went to such great lengths. Cheng Chuqiu did not need to think twice to know that he had ulterior motives. However, for the two sisters who were then without support, this was undoubtedly the warmest gesture amidst their difficulties, and it likely became one of the main reasons they eventually agreed to marry Guo Zongyao

Cheng Chuqiang wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. Suddenly, he noticed a slope outside the backyard, where beneath the green shade of the grass, there was a red brick house engulfed by overgrown weeds. With nothing else to do, Cheng Chuqiang decided to approach it.

On the third wall, there was a small square stone block, approximately two to three feet on each side, with an oil lamp overturned on top of it. Cheng Chuqiu adjusted it to stand upright, his hands covered in dust

Returning to Li Bao'er’s residence, Li Bei'er set aside those around her and had lunch alone with Li Bao'er. After staying for a while longer, she finally took her leave.

Cheng Chuqiu's thoughts stirred, and he said: "You have something to tell me, don't you?"

The execution has been completed, and this "ceremony" is also declared to be over. Li Beier announced the dissolution, and everyone returned to their respective workstations

Although he repeatedly guessed without success, he still refused to give up. If this place were merely a hiding spot for martial arts manuals or treasures and weapons, it would be too exaggerated. After all, if one practices a martial arts manual but cannot use their skills to protect it, then the manual should not even be called a manual. Moreover, both books and weapons are not large in size; if one truly wanted to hide them effectively, why dig a tunnel, even one large enough for an adult to pass through?

Cheng Chuqiu looked towards the break and saw that the fracture was smooth, as if it had been cut by a sharp blade. Assessing the depth of the object in the ground, he decided to dig from the side instead. Before long, he unearthed a hard object, reaching out to touch it; it felt icy, as if it were made of iron

Cheng Chuqiu looked at the bookshelf in front of him and suddenly thought: "Such a large bookshelf can hold quite a number of books. If it were filled with martial arts manuals, it could rival the Sutra Repository of Shaolin Temple. But if there aren't that many books, why bother to have a bookshelf at all?"

The days on the island were dull, but Cheng Chuqiu became excited upon discovering a pit. He turned back to find a chair leg in the house, wrapped it with some ragged cloth and grass rope, and lit it with fire to serve as a torch, then prepared to return to the pit to investigate.

In response to the leader's words: Chen and Li, by their very nature, are slaves. It is solely due to the kindness and benevolence of the Madam that they were specially taken into her service, allowed to redeem their crimes through merit. Unexpectedly, these two not only failed to show gratitude, but also took advantage of their proximity to the Madam to act tyrannically on the island, behaving recklessly everywhere. Others, for the Madam's sake, tolerated them, but ultimately, these two even dared to deceive the Madam herself. According to our guild's regulations, they should be punished under Article 7: the crime of deceiving superiors and concealing the truth for personal gain; and Article 12: the crime of causing chaos and bringing disaster to colleagues. Both crimes warrant the most severe punishment.

These items naturally became spoils of war. The Dongting Gang has accomplished a significant task and can enjoy the benefits for several years. However, according to the gang's regulations, these items must first be presented to the gang leader, who will then distribute them fairly based on merit and actual needs.

Cheng Chuqiu thought to himself: "She has come, and she wants to test me. After observing the execution of the criminals today, what will be her reaction?" He then said: "Yes, I understand."

Cheng Chuqiu removed the fire flag, returned to the previous location, and began to poke and dig around with the flagpole. Before long, he unearthed two more identical flags. One of them still showed signs of having been stained with darkened blood, while the other was a flag without a pole.

The person said, "Yes, I will take care of it right away." He turned to leave.

Li Beier said, "Alright, that's enough, Elder Wei, please return to your seat." Wei Qing paced back and forth for a few more steps before finally sitting down in his seat, still simmering with anger.

Cheng Chuqiu, lost in thought, unconsciously sat down on a square stone to rest. Suddenly, he realized that the various dimensions and heights of this stone were just right for a comfortable seat, thus unraveling the mystery of the stone. This further convinced him that this stone chamber must have other more profound purposes beyond what he currently observed

Wei Qingdao: "If my master were here, how could you be so audacious!"

Six men in black dragged the iron chains, pulling Zhou Cuo to the side of the few individuals who had entered earlier. Among that group, someone secretly glanced at Zhou Cuo and shed tears

Cheng Chuqiu said: "I truly understand now, you can rest assured!"

The person said: "Yes." and turned to leave

Indeed, all that could be heard was Lu Yanjiao's disdainful "Pah!" as she said, "You think I care about you? Dream on!" After a pause, she continued, "Stay here for dinner today. The lady has assigned me some tasks, and I need to step out to take care of them. Before dinner, you will assist me in serving."

Li Baor's face turned pale with fear upon seeing the fierce appearance of this man, who was so formidable. Tang Junyan furrowed his white brows and said in a low voice: "How can five or six people not subdue just one person?"

Weng Tansheng bowed deeply and turned to say: "Bring the prisoner!"

Li Beier said: "Weng Tansheng, how is the judgment on the case entrusted to you?"

He casually extinguished the torch and began to poke and prod around with a stick in his hand. Suddenly, he poked something hard in the corner of the muddy ground. Looking down, he discovered it was the tip of a gun

But another voice said: "This matter is absolutely true. I have verified it through various channels, and that is why I rushed back ahead of others to report to Elder Wei."

His thinking is only half correct; the main reason is that Li Beier is deeply loved by the people. Comparing her with the two previous incumbents highlights many shortcomings of Guo Zongyao, leading to a diminished respect for him compared to the past, not to mention that he is already deceased

Lü Yanjiao only wanted him to stay and did not give any specific instructions. After sitting in the side hall for a while, he felt extremely bored and began to wander around aimlessly

Cheng Chuqiu, seeing her cry so sorrowfully, cast a concerned glance at her. Upon noticing this, Li Bao'er suddenly blinked her eyes and turned back to continue wiping her tears

Tang Junyan said, "Hmm, I hope he can also bring good fortune to Madam Guo." After saying this, he glanced at Cheng Chuqiu once more before departing

Li Beier executed Zhou Cuo and then fell silent, allowing Wang Xuqing to take the stage and enumerate the crimes of the other leaders of the Huachong Gang. After finishing, various punishments were also drafted, including the gouging of eyes, amputation of feet, and the cutting off of noses and tongues. After the punishment, if the individual was deemed incapable of work, they would be imprisoned for life, never to see the light of day. If only the nose was cut off and the tongue severed, they would be marked on the forehead as a reminder and sent into exile as a slave

The burly man named Zhou Cuo spat and said, "You are Guo Zongyao's disciple? You are not qualified to speak to me!"

Weng Tansheng said: "Chen Fan and - Picture - Book Li Fan, before dying, do you have anything to say?"

The island is a closed world, and resources are limited. It is said that for the accommodation of the two sisters, Guo Zongyao specially relinquished the house he usually used for secret training, spending several days and nights to have it hastily renovated, resulting in its current appearance

The burly man with a twisted beard continued to say: "Guo Zongyao, what use is it to hide like a turtle at this point? Ten years ago, you were my defeated opponent, and today, ten years later, you remain my defeated opponent! Hahaha..." His voice was thunderous, making everyone feel quite uncomfortable in their ears

However, under the current circumstances, things are quite different. Cheng Chuqiu is filled with curiosity about this woman, who is like a riddle, and he also admires her performance this morning

Wei Qing, frustrated by his missed strike, became even angrier. With a loud shout, he stepped forward and aimed another punch at Zhou Cuo's face, clearly intent on making him suffer.

Two prisoners knelt before Li Beier, trembling all over

Cheng Chuqiu's skills may have diminished to only 30%, but his arrogance might have increased by 30% compared to before. He found it somewhat amusing and said, "Others may fear your Dongting Gang, but I, Cheng Chuqiu, do not take you seriously. If you want to use me to feed a turtle, you must first be able to catch me."

At this point, even those who know nothing about martial arts can see that Zhou Cuo is like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to fall at any moment. Wei Qing has thrown two punches but still cannot resolve the situation of being bound and completely defenseless, which has already caused the other elders to lose face. Whether he throws a third punch or not is inconsequential. However, at this moment, as long as he can beat Zhou Cuo to a bloody pulp, it would still serve as a form of venting his frustration. Without hesitation, Wei Qing threw a punch, striking Zhou Cuo on the nose.

Cheng Chuqiu walked for a while longer, but saw that the forest ahead was endless, with no signs of a way out. Just as he was contemplating whether to turn back, he suddenly heard faint voices of people conversing in the distance. He thought that at most he could ask them for directions, since everyone on this island belonged to the Dongting Gang, and he was rumored to be the "undying slave" with a mark on his face, so no one should fail to recognize him.

Cheng Chuqiu recalled that when Steward Li spoke to him about the origins of the Li sisters, he mentioned that their father was the head of the Weiyuan Escort Agency. He felt quite puzzled; could it be that this object before him was actually a relic of Li Beier's father, Li Zhongxuan

If this still cannot prove that Li Beier is exceptional, then her subsequent address to Cheng Chuqiu as "Brother Chu," advising him to start anew in order to secure his livelihood, and her careful explanation of why she asked Steward Li to bring him over, along with her amiable remarks that it was Li Baor who recognized his talents and wanted his assistance, cannot help but draw attention to her uniqueness

Cheng Chuqiu said softly, "I am sorry, but you must die." He stepped forward to check his pulse, and indeed, he had already passed away.

Li Bao'er looked back, and the two men in white followed her gaze, turning the faces of the two prisoners upward. Without a doubt, Li Bao'er saw clearly, and Cheng Chuqiu also noticed that these two individuals had tattoos on their cheeks similar to his own.

All eyes in the arena turned towards the source of the sound, where five or six figures in black appeared at the other end of the training ground. These individuals stood in various positions, encircling a central area, each holding an iron chain, the ends of which were all directed towards a burly man with a thick beard in the center of the circle. The thunderous sound just heard evidently originated from this man.

The more she spoke, the more agitated her expression became, and the emotions of the followers on the island were stirred up accordingly. Cheng Chuqiu could vaguely sense a wave of resentment emanating from the crowd around her, a chilling atmosphere prevailing both above and below.

Clearly, this statement left Wei Qing with no choice but to concede, and he could only respond with silence

Cheng Chuqiu thought to himself: "What an impolite old fellow." He followed the group, retracing his steps back. When he arrived in the morning, he felt a bit of mystery and had a desire to uncover the truth, but now that he understood what was going on, he felt no motivation at all.

Cheng Chuqiu thought to himself: "When a person is alive, there are feelings; when a person dies, feelings die as well. Now that the person is dead, the so-called forbidden ground is no longer cared for by anyone"

It is akin to treasure hunting; the most exhilarating and joyful moments may not be when the treasure is found, but rather when one is convinced that treasure indeed exists. Cheng Chuqiu eagerly advanced through the corridor, crouching as he moved forward. After a while, the corridor gradually widened until it was spacious enough for a person to stand upright. Then, the corridor turned several more bends, and the end was already visible ahead.

Weng Tansheng said: "Yes, thank you, leader." He then put away the note carefully

Wei Qing, in a fit of rage, said to the man in black: "Drag him over!"

However, since he had persisted to this point in order to explore the mystery of the tunnel, there was truly no reason for him to hesitate at this moment. Cheng Chuqiu thought without hesitation and, relying on his intuition, began to walk down the mountain. Before long, he arrived at the valley bottom, where he saw the branches stretching across the sky and the spring water flowing gently. The scenery was unlike anything he had ever seen, and he realized that the landscape of this deserted island was ever-changing; perhaps even after several more months, he would not be able to fully explore it.

Lü Yanjiao said: "Do you really know?"

The individuals mentioned in her words all nodded in acknowledgment, especially when she spoke of the brothers present in the hall. Almost all the men in black present simultaneously let out a sound of emotion, which was quite moving.

Once these words were spoken, Wei Qing effectively received his orders. He let out a low growl, sprang from his seat, and in a flash appeared before the bearded man, stating directly: "Zhou Cuo, you are now a prisoner of my Dongting Gang, known to all in the martial world, which is why you are a defeated general. What use is it to merely gossip here?"

The figure in black finished reciting a long list in a disorganized manner, then continued: "Finally, a few adult males, a few females, a few young boys, and a few young girls were captured. The aforementioned list is here; please have a look, Master..." After speaking, he neatly rolled up the scroll and presented it with a bow.

This is not only different from those who consider themselves superior, such as Steward Li, Li Bao'er, or others in the gang who hold positions of rank and status. Even in the eyes of Lu Yanjiao and Gong Yuexian, who are also servants, Cheng Chuqiu can occasionally perceive that they ultimately feel a sense of superiority over the tattooed slaves, which they unconsciously express.

Li Beier summoned a sedan chair bearer, intending to personally escort Li Baoer back. Cheng Chuqiu stood by her side, and when Li Baoer lowered her head to wipe her tears, her gaze happened to meet his.

Wei Qing walked up to these individuals and said fiercely: "Do you see this? The one lying on the ground is your leader. If any of you are still unconvinced, feel free to step forward; Zhou Cuo's fate serves as a warning!"

Lü Yanjiao said: "You have two eyes on your face; what you choose to look at is none of my business. However, you are not a three-year-old child anymore, so be careful. There are some things that should not be seen."

Upon hearing this, Bao Dan opened his eyes wide and said, "Please allow me to go out and handle it, Master." At the same time, Wei Qing said, "I will go!"